Chen Tseh-yu of National Taiwan University of Arts jumps in the air with the ball against National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in their UBA second-round game in New Taipei City yesterday.

Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times

Second-round action in the annual University Basketball Association (UBA) tournament continued at Fu Jen Catholic University in New Taipei City yesterday morning with Taipei’s National Taiwan Normal University downing New Taipei City’s Hsing Wu University in a 59-56 thriller.

What should have been an easy victory for the Future Educators was ultimately turned into a close game. Hsing Wu rallied from as many as 19 points down in the second half with a strong fourth quarter to pull within a deuce with under two minutes to play, before falling short by three.

Wang Tai-jeh’s free throw in the closing seconds was the difference as it sealed the deal for National Taiwan Normal, avoiding what would have been a colossal upset.

Science and Technology 68, Arts 64

National Taiwan University of Science and Technology pulled off a major upset against National Taiwan University of Arts by topping the defending champions 68-64 yesterday afternoon.

The Techies surprised the Artists with a dominating 20-8 first quarter, thanks to a solid effort from Fan Jing-cheng and Fan Shih-en.

The “Fan Fan” tandem would go on to combine for 29 points and humble the Artists, who might have been caught looking ahead on the schedule.

Similar to Hsing Wu, the Artists rallied in the fourth quarter to get within three of the Techies after falling behind by as many as 19, with top shooter Chen Tseh-yu connecting on back-to-back three-pointers in the closing minute.

However, it was too little, too late for the defending champions as the Techies made free throws down the line to keep the lead for good.

OTHER RESULTS

In yesterday’s other second-round games, National Taiwan Sport University defeated Shoufu University 81-62; Chinese Culture University downed Mingdao University 76-67; National Kaohsiung Normal University thumped Shih Hsin University 81-52; and I-Shou University beat Fu Jen Catholic University 92-87.